Switch construction



July 13, 1943. A.'V AN RYAN 2,324,047

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 2, 1940 s Shee'ts-She et 1 INSULA T/ON l i I FS/STOR Z6 $7 i :52 J/ I a9 INSULATION J6 \ZJ Zrwnfar UZn Ma gy 0526 cm Jul 13, 1943. A VAN RYAN v 2,324,047

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION ig igfly July 13, 1943. I A. VAN RYAN 2,324,047

SWITCH CONSTRUCT ION Filed Aug 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1720672502 flrz ifw g Vein @garz E I I Patented July 13, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 2,324,047 SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Anthony Van Ryan,

Schweitzer & Conra This invention relates, generally, to disconnecting switches and it has particular relation to disconnecting switches of the bayonet type.

An object of this invention is to operating a disconnect ng switch of the bayonet type to the open position and extinguishing the are drawn incident thereto in a new and improved manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide for automatically locking the rod-like switch member of a bayonet typeswitch in the switch closed position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a certain degree of lost motion between certain parts of the movable switch member of a bayonet type switch so as to facilitate operation thereof to the open circuit position. A stll further object of this invention is to provide for drawin an arc in a bore and projecting a follower of insulating material therein for assisting in extinguishingthe arc in a new and improved manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a renewable arcing tip for the movable sw tch member of the bayonet type switch.

It is also an object of this invention to provide for increasing the resistance of the circuit through a disconnecting switch of the bayonet type while it is being operated to the open circult position in order to limit the magnitude of the arc current.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement-of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the an plication of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invent on, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2, taken together, comprise a longitudinal sectional view of a bayonet type disconnect ng switch constructed according. to this invention, the switch being shown "in the closed circuit position;

Figures 3 and 4, taken together; are similar to Figures 1 and 2 and show the switch in the open circuit position;

Figure 5 is a view, inside elevation, of the assignor to (I, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,945 6 Claims. (Cl. 20o 154) provide for shown in Figures 1 formed down switch shown in the trates how it can b support;

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are detail sectional views along the lines 66, 'l 1, and B8, respectively, of Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the switch and 2.

Referring now particularly to Figure 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character l0 designates a metallic base which is arranged to support insulators II and 12. Line terminals. shown generally at l3 and M, are carried by the insulators II and I2, respectively. The line terminals l3 and N are provided, with terminal connecting portions l5 and IE to which line conductors can be attached. The line terminals I3 and M are also provided with outwardly projecting support members l1 and 18 which are arranged to support in alignment the parts making up the disconnecting switch that is indicated generally at 22.

The details of construction of the disconnecting switch 22 are illustrated more clearly in Figures 1, 2, 3. and 4 of the drawings, to which reference will now be ha switch 22 comprises a switch members desi 24 which are carried and I8 respectively.

preceding figures and illuse mounted on an insulating pair of aligned tubular gnated generally at 23 and by the support members 11 The switch members 23 and 24 are arranged to be interconnected by a twopart bayonet type movable switch member that is indicated generally at 25. The details of construction of the switch member 25 will be set forth hereinafter.

The tubular switch member 23 includes a metallic sleeve 26 which is threaded externally at both ends and is threaded internally at its upper end. A sleeve of insulation comprising a liner 2'! of fibre and a sheath 28 of Bakelite, is threaded onto the lower end of the sleeve 26. A nut 29 is threaded onto the upper end. of the sleeve 26 and serves to clamp it securely to the support member H in good electrical contact engagement therewith. Within the upper end of the sleeve 26 a metallic contact ring 30 is threaded. The ring 30 is provided with integrally wardly projecting contact fingers 3| having contact engaging portions 32 projecting toward each other and biased toward each other by means of a coil tension garter spring 33. The projections 32 of the contact fingers 3| are arranged to engage the upper end of a switch blade or rod 34 which forms a part of the two-part switch member 25, previously red. As there shown, the

ferred to. The arrangement of the contact fingers and garter spring are illustrated in further i moved through insulating tubes.35 and 36 whose bores 31 and 38 are adapted under the heat of an arc to evolve an arc extinguishing medium. The tubes 35 and 36 can be formed of any suitable material which will evolve the arc extinguishing medium such as fibre or a material which is now available on the open market that is sold under the trade name Mycalex.

With a view'to further assisting in extinguishing any arcs that may be drawn within the bores 31 and 38, a follower or trailer 39 of insulating material is provided and it is arranged to follow the switch rod or blade 34 into the bores 31 and 38 so as to confine the arcs that may be drawn therein to the space between its outer surface and the inner surfaces or bores 31 and 38 of the tubes 35 and 36. The follower or trailer 39 is also formed of a material which will evolve an arc extinguishing medium when subjected tothe heat of an arc. Like the tubes 35 and 36, it may be formed of fibre or Mycalex.

The follower or trailer 39 is provided at its upper end with a metallic stop 46 which has a flange 4| that is adapted to engage the upper surface 42 of the inwardly projecting portions 32 of the contact fingers 3| for limiting the downward movement of the follower or trailer 39. A coil compression spring 43 is provided for urging the follower or trailer 39 downwardly. The spring 43 reacts between the flange 4| of the stop 46 and a plug 44 that is threaded into the upper end of a metallic tube 45 which is threaded at its lower end into the sleeve 26.

An arcing tip 46 is provided between the lower end of the follower or trailer 39 and the upper end of the switch rod or blade 34. The tip 46 is provided with a threaded extension 41 which -is screwed into the lower end of the follower or trailer 39. The upper end of the switch rod or blade 34 is provided with a projection 48 which interfits with a suitable recess in the arcing tip 46 for centering it with respect to the switch blade or rod 34. It will be obvious that the arcing tip 46 could be detachably secured to the switch blade or rod 34 and suitable centering means could be provided on the lower end of the follower or trailer 39.

An arcing tip for the contact fingers 3| is provided in the form of a metallic ring 49 which bears against the lower end of the sleeve 26 and through which the switch blade or rod 34 is movable. When the switch blade or rod 34 has'moved downwardly to such a position that the arcing tip 46 is below the arcing tip 49, it will be understood that the arc will be formed therebetween within the bores 31 and 38 rather than between the projecting portions 32 of the contact fingers 3| and the upper end of the switch blade rod 34.

With a view to decreasing the current flow in the are that may be drawn on operation of the switch, provision is made for increasing the resistance of the circuit. For this purpose, a resistor 50, in the form of 'a high resistance carbon composition ring, is provided around the sleeve 35 and between the arcing tip 49 and a metallic ring 5|. The arrangement is shown in further detail in- Figure '1. It will be observed "that the ring 5| projects inwardly between the ends of the sleeves 35 and 36 and has sliding contact engagement with the switch blade or rod 34. When an arc is drawn between the arcing tips 46 and 49 as the switch blade or rod 34 moves downwardly, it is shunted by the resistor 56 through which sufllcient current may flow as will make it impossible for the arc to sustain itself. The current flow through the switch is then limited by the resistor 56 and the current flow through a subsequent are that may .be formed will be correspondingly limited and more readily extinguished.

If it is desired to insert additional resistance in the circuit in parallel with the resistor 66, a suitable connection can be made through an aperture 52 in the sleeves 21-28, to the ring 5| which is provided with a tapped aperture 53. The external resistor would be connected between the ring 5| and the upper tubular switch member 23.

A metallic nozzle 55 is threaded into the lower end of the liner 21 and supports the lower end of the tube 36. The nozzle 55 is provided with an outflared opening 56 which serves to guide the upper end of the switch blade or rod 34 into the circuit closed position and facilitates the discharge of the products of the arc that is formed within the bores 31 and 38.

In Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings the details of construction of the lower tubular switch member 24 are more clearly illustrated. This switch member includes a metallic sleeve 66 which projects through the support member i8. The sleeve is threaded externally at its ends and is adapted to receive a metallic tube 6| on its lower end and another metallic tube 62 on its upper end. When the tubes 6| and 62 are tightened into position, they securely grip the support member l8 and provide good electrical contact engagement therewith. At its upper end the metallic tube 62 is provided with a packing retainer 63 which carries a packing ring 64 that bears against the lower end of the switch blade or rod 34 that forms a connector between the tubular switch members 23 and 24. The packing ring 64 substantially seals the upper end of the sleeve 62 and prevents entrance therein of rain, etc.

A contact ring 65 is threaded into the metallic sleeve 62, as shown, and it is provided with integrally formed contact fingers 66 having projections 61 which extend toward each other and into contact engagement with the switch blade or rod 34. A coil tension garter spring 66 serves to bias the projecting portions 61 of the contact fingers 66 into pressure contact engagement with the switch blade or rod 34. The inward movement of the contact fingers 66 is limited by a stop ring 69 that is mounted on pins 10 which extend through the contact fingers 66. Figure 8 shows in somewhat more detail the arrangement of the contact fingers 66 and the associated arts. 1

A handle 14 forms the second part of the twopart switch member 25 and is provided for op: erating the switch blade or rod 34 to and from the switch closed position. A lost motion connection, shown generally at 15, is provided between the switch bladeor rod 34 and the handle 14 in order to permit the latter to acquire some momentum for the purpose of more readily freeing the switch blade or red 34 in the event that it might become stuck or frozen in the switch closed position.

The lost motion connection 15 comprises a rod whose upper end 16 is threaded into the lower end of the switch blade or rod 34. It is provided with a flange 11 intermediate its ends which serves as a' stop for the downward movement of the switch blade or rod 84 as will hereinafter appear. The lower end I8 of the rod is slidably mounted in a suitable recess in the upper end of the handle 14 and is provided with a generally rectangular longitudinally extending notch 18 which permits relative movement with respect to a pin 88 that extends through the handle 14.

The handle 14 is urged downwardly by means of a coil compression spring 88 which reacts between a washer 84 that abuts the lower end of the sleeve 88 and a washer 88 which is carried by a shoulder 86 on the handle 14. The downwardmovement of the washer 88 is limited by a ring 81 that is threaded into the lower end of the metallic sleeve 8|.

A latch, shown generally at 88, is provided for holding the handle 14 in the upper position in which the switch blade or rod 84 connects the tubular switch members 28 and 24. The latch 88 comprises a bifurcated latch member 88, Fig= ure 9, whose ends 98 are carried by the ends of a pin 88 which projects through the lower end of the sleeve 6i and the ring ti, Figure 2. Downwardly projecting portions 92 carry a pin 88 therebetween, which, in the latched position, is located underneath a irusto-conical detent ill that is carried by the handle 'lne oletent St is provided with the cone surface 955 in order to move the pin out of its path when the handle "it is moved upwardly to the circuit closed :cosi tion. A. coil tension spring is connected between a suitable support ill extending from the sleeve 6i and the latch lever 89 for biasing the latter to the latched position as shown ii Figure 2. The latch lever 89 is provided with an. exten sion 98 over which the prong of a switch sticl: can be placed for tripping the latch 68 to the unlatched position, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The lower end of the handle "i l is provided with an eye for receiving the "prong of switch sticlr to permit operation of the handle the switch closed position.

in describing the operation of the switch con struction disclosed herein, it will first be as= sinned that the switch is in the closed position as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the The prong of a switch sticlr is applied to the projection lid of the latch lever 89 and it is rnoved downwardly as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4 of the drawings. The pin 98 then moves out from unclemee n the detent Q6 and the handle ll is no longer restrained. The spring immediately rnoves the handle (i l dependently of the switch blade or rod 36 ce= cause of the lost motion connection there1oe= tween until the oin till engages the lower end of the notch 279. This permits the handle it to acquire some momentum which may be necessary in order to initiate the movement of the switch blade or rod 34 with respect to the proiecting portions 82 and Eli of the contact fingers 8| and 6E, respectively. The downward movement of the switch blade or bar 84 is of course assisted by gravity and also by coil compression spring 43 which moves the follower or trailer 88 downwardly. As previously described, an arc will be formed between the arcing tips I6 and 48, if the switch is operated with current flowing in the circuit, and this are will be confined within the bores 87 and 88 by the follower or trailer 89. The functioning of the resistor 58 has previously been described and, therefore, a

description of its functioning in assisting in extinguishing the arc will not be repeated.

The switch blade or rod 84 moves downwardly and out of the nozzle 88. It separates from the arcing tip 48 and is withdrawn substantially completely within the lower tubular switch member 24 as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The follower or trailer 88 moves downwardly until the flange 4| engages the upper surfaces 42 of the projections 82 of the contact fingers 8| where, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, it completely fills the bores 31 and 88 and prevents entrance of insects and foreign substances which is undesirable. In this position the follower or trailer 89 is protected from the weather and thus, if made of fibre or similar material is less likely to warp since it is not directly exposed to rain, e c.

As shown in. Figure 4 of the drawings, the handle Hi continues to move downwardly until the flange 11 engages the washer 35 that previously has been stopped by the ring 81. After release of the latch lever 89, it is biased by the spring to back to its position as shown in Figure 2 or the drawings.

in order to close the switch, the prong of a switch stlclr is inserted in the eye to and the handle i l is moved upwardly. The lost motion connection "it": permits some relative movement between the handle "it and the switch blade or rod S l until the upper end of the former engages the underside of the flange W. The switch blade or rod 35 is then moved upwardly to the switch closed position and carries with it the follower or trailer 39. During this movement the springs Q3 and are compressed as shown Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing construction different embodi nients oi the invention can be made without cleparting from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 4

What is claimed as new is:

l. A switch comprising, in combination, a pair of tubular switchmembers aligned on a common axis and stationarily mounted in insulated spaced relation, a two part rod-1ilre switch member movable endwise of said switch members for interconnecting the same, and a lost motion connec= tlon between said parts comprising a slot in one part and cooperating stop means in the other part whereby relative movement of the same is permitted to store energy in one rod-like part for applying a blow to the other rod-dike part to inttiate its movement.

2. A switch comprising, in combination, a pair of tubular switch member aligned on a common axis and stationarily mounted in insulated spaced relation, resilient contact means in each switch member; and a two part switch member includ ing a rod-like connector member movable endwise of said switch members and adapted to engage said contact means therein, a rod-like handle member, and a lost motion connection between said connector member and said handle member comprising a slot in one member and cooperating stop means in the other member permitting relative movement therebetween whereby a blow is applied by the latter to the former to release the same from the grip of said resilient contact means.

3. A switch comprising, in combination, a pair oi tubular switch members aligned on a common axis and stationarily mounted in insulated spaced relation, resilient contact means in each switch member; a two part switch member including a rod-like connector member movable endwise of said switch members and adapted to engage said contact means therein, a rod-like handle member, and a lost motion connection between said connector member and said handle member comprising a slot in one member and cooperating stop means in the other member permitting relative movement therebtween whereby a blow is applied by the latter to the former to release the same from the grip of said resilient contact means; resiliently operated latch means adapted to automatically lock said handle member in the switch closed position when it is moved to a predetermined position, and spring means cooperating with said handle member for moving the same to the switch open position when said latch means is released.

4. A switch comprising, in combination, a pair of tubular switch members aligned on a common axis and stationarily mounted in insulated spaced relation, insulating means on one or said switch members providing a bore, a two part rod-like switch member movable endwise of said switch members and through said bore and adapted to draw an arc therein on separation from said one switch member, a follower of insulating material adapted to move with said rod-like switch member into said bore and substantially fill the same for confining said arc, and a lost motion connection between the parts of said rod-like switch member comprising a slot in one part and cooperating stop means in the other part whereby relative movement of the same is permitted to store energy in one part for applying a blow to the other part to initiate its movement.

5. A switch comprising, in combination, a pair of tubular switch members aligned on a common axis and stationarily mounted in insulated spaced relation, insulating means on one of said switch members providing a bore, resilient contact means in each switch member; a two part switch member including a rod-like connector member movable endwise of said switch members through said bore and adapted to engage said contact means in the switch closed position and to draw an arc in said bore on separation from said one switch member, a handle member, and a lost motion connection between said connector member and said handle member comprising a slot in one member and cooperating stop means in the other member, permitting relative movement therebetween whereby a blow is applied by the latter to the former to release the same from the grip of said resilient contact means; and a follower of insulating material adapted to move with said connector member into said bore and substantially fill the same for confining said arc.

6. A switch comprising, in combination, a-pair of tubular switch members aligned on a common axis stationarily mounted in insulated spaced relation, insulating means on one oi said switch members providing a bore, resilient contact means in each switch member; a two part switch member including a rod-like connector member movable endwise of said switch members through said bore and adapted to engage said contact means in the switch closed position and to draw an arc in said bore on separation from said one switch member, a handle member,

nector member and said handle member permitting relative movement therebetween whereby a blow is applied by the latter to the former to release the same from the grip of said resilient contact means; a follower of insulating material and resilient means biasing the same into said bore as said connector member is withdrawn therethrough, said follower substantially filling said bore and confining said are between the walls thereof, resiliently operated latch means adapted to automatically lock said handle member in the switch closed position when it is moved to a predetermined position, and resilient means cooperating with said handle member for moving the same to the switch open position when said latch means is released.

ANTHONY VAN RYAN. 

